Changing Lives

David Lee FolkSchool of Nursing, Honors

I remember being where you are, thinking about colleges, and never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I might go to the poorest country in Central America with my classmates.

Dr. Ross takes a dozen or more nursing students there a few times a year, and I had to think hard about going – the first time. Oh, yeah, I’ve been back, because the first time changed my life.

So I have a lot of /stories. One of my favorites is David, and his trumpet.How it was stolen, how we got him a new one, and what this meant in his life.

So many things happen, so quickly, and you learn that when you give to people, they really give back. They’re unforgettable.

Hey, spend a few minutes with me, ok? Go to my blog, and I’ll share a lot of pictures, too. I would love for you to meet David.

UPDATE ON LEE

Lee studied nursing at RMU, graduating with honors in 2010. That year he also received the Presidential Transformational Award, the university’s highest undergraduate honor, given annually to a graduating student who has been transformed by his or her experience at Robert Morris and has also contributed to the transformation of the university in a meaningful way. He was also the inaugural winner of RMU's Rising Star Award, given to a graduating senior who demonstrates academic success, individuality, determination, passion and potential in his or her field of study.

Lee says being featured in RMU's Change A Life campaign was a high point in his life, both personally and academically.

"It was humbling to be a visual part of such a large movement by the university to implement community service into student life," he says. "I really enjoyed the whole process of creating the campaign, and it's been such a thrill to see the ripple effects that it has had throughout the community."

Following graduation, Lee spent a year at WVU's Ruby Memorial Hospital, before joining the nursing team at St. Clair Hospital in Pittsburgh's South Hills. He also started back to school at RMU this past fall, where he's pursuing his Doctorate of Nursing Practice to become a family nurse practitioner.

Lee believes the "Changing Lives" themeconnected with so many people, particularlywith the Pittsburgh public, because of the kind of people who populate this area.

"We take community very seriously, andit made people proud to see a local university cultivating that spirit of goodwill in its students. That translates to strong character in the future workforce as well as stronger communities. All in all, it gives everyone a great feeling about working together for the greater good, and a campaign that can translate that message is bound to be successful."